AC36: Is the potential Italian challenger Columbus 2021 for real? According to La Stampa, Nathan Outteridge has a million reasons for hoping so

SAN FRANCISCO (#1108) – Australian Nathan Outteridge has been linked to prospective Italian America's Cup challenger Columbus 2021 with a huge wage on offer. Defenders Emirates Team New Zealand confirm they are in formal talks with Columbus 2021 whose participation would bolster the challenging fleet to four alongside Challenger Of Record Luna Rossa, American Magic of the New York Yacht Club and Sir Ben Ainslie's INEOS Team UK. The ambitious Columbus 2021 has spoken of a multinational crew and a need to be "competitive with other teams in every respect". –Excerpt from an article this (Friday) morning on the Kiwi website stuff.co.nz. Full story.

If you read Italian, the original report in La Stampa is here. More on today's Sailing Illustrated live webcast, "TGIF with TFE" as usual at 1300 PDT / 1600 EDT / 2200 NZT / 0800+1 NZT on www.facebook.com/sailingillustratedblog.

Nathan Outteridge (AUS), skipper of the Swedish challenger Artemis in the 2017 America's Cup, has been tied to the potential second Italian challenger Columbus 2021 – with a reported salary of US$1 million. Photo: Thierry Martinez.